CINCINNATI, Ohio (May 19, 2018)– Playing in its first USL contest since April 28, North Carolina FC was dealt a tough 4-1 loss to FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on Saturday night. The result halted NCFC’s five-match unbeaten run that had previously stretched back to April 14.
FC Cincinnati struck first with a goal from former NCFC player Nazmi Albadawi. The Raleigh, N.C., native put the home side ahead in the 12th minute with a blast from 23 yards out that pinged off the crossbar and into the net.
NCFC nearly answered back just two minutes later with a break towards goal. Daniel Rios placed his shot low and towards the bottom right corner of the net, but an FC Cincinnati defender added a last-second clearance to keep Rios’ shot out of the net.
In the 27th minute, NCFC nearly equalized. Steven Miller found the ball in space with an open net, but his goal-bound shot was cleared off the line and away from danger by the FC Cincinnati defense once again.
In the waning minutes of the first half, Cincinnati took control of the match with another goal from Albadawi. The midfielder found space in the box and made no mistake on the finish to put his team up 2-0 at the half.
The home side put the game out of reach in the second half with two goals in a seven-minute span. Emmanuel Ledesma converted a penalty kick in the 62nd minute and Danni Koing made it 4-0 in the 69th minute.
In the 86th minute, Marios Lomis pulled one back for NCFC. The rookie flicked Kyle Bekker’s corner into the far side of the net to score his second league goal of the year and fix the result at 4-1.
Up Next:
NCFC will continue its Open Cup and USL campaigns at home next week. The team will host the Ocean City Nor’easters in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. All seats are $10 and available for purchase online. NCFC will return to league action against Atlanta United 2 on Friday, May 25 at 7 p.m. Click here to buy tickets for the match. Tickets can also be purchased at the Coastal Credit Union Box Office in person or over the phone at 919-459-8144.
Notes:
The club’s youth-to-pro pipeline was predominately featured once again, as NCFC Youth Academy product DJ Taylor started at right back and fellow Academy alum Dre Fortune was selected to the bench.
The match was NCFC's first USL league match since a 3-0 victory over Penn FC on April 28.
Marios Lomis scored his second USL goal of the season with a goal off an assist from Kyle Bekker in the 86th minute.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-5-1): Alex Tambakis; Peabo Doue, Michael Harrington, Futty Danso, DJ Taylor; Austin da Luz © (Donovan Ewolo 70’), Marcel Kandziora, Graham Smith (Bernhard Luxbacher 84’), Kyle Bekker, Steven Miller; Daniel Rios (Marios Lomis, 70’)
Subs not used: Austin Guerrero, Aaron Guillen, Dre Fortune, Connor Tobin
CIN (4-4-2): Evan Newton; Justin Hoyte, Blake Smith, Dekel Keinan ©, Paddy Barrett; Kenny Walker, Richie Ryan (Michael Lahoud, 82’), Nazmi Albadawi, Corben Bone; Danni Koing (Jimmy McLaughlin, 84’), Emmanuel Ledesma (Emery Welshman, 71’)
Subs not sued: Spencer Richey, Matt Bahner, Sam de Wit, Russell Cicrerone
Score:
CIN: 4
NCFC: 1
Goals:
CIN: Nazmi Albadawi (Emmanuel Ledesma, 11’), Nazmi Albadawi (Emmanuel Ledesma, 45’), Emmanuel Ledesma (PK, 62’), Danni Koing (Emmanuel Ledesma, 69’)
NCFC: Marios Lomis (Kyle Bekker, 86’)
Cautions:
CIN: Blake Smith 30’, Danni Konig 75’
NCFC: Kyle Bekker 65’
Ejections:
CIN: —
NCFC: —
Attendance: 22,884
###
CINCINNATI, Ohio (May 19, 2018)– Playing in its first USL contest since April 28, North Carolina FC was dealt a tough 4-1 loss to FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on Saturday night. The result halted NCFC’s five-match unbeaten run that had previously stretched back to April 14.
FC Cincinnati struck first with a goal from former NCFC player Nazmi Albadawi. The Raleigh, N.C., native put the home side ahead in the 12th minute with a blast from 23 yards out that pinged off the crossbar and into the net.
NCFC nearly answered back just two minutes later with a break towards goal. Daniel Rios placed his shot low and towards the bottom right corner of the net, but an FC Cincinnati defender added a last-second clearance to keep Rios’ shot out of the net.
In the 27th minute, NCFC nearly equalized. Steven Miller found the ball in space with an open net, but his goal-bound shot was cleared off the line and away from danger by the FC Cincinnati defense once again.
In the waning minutes of the first half, Cincinnati took control of the match with another goal from Albadawi. The midfielder found space in the box and made no mistake on the finish to put his team up 2-0 at the half.
The home side put the game out of reach in the second half with two goals in a seven-minute span. Emmanuel Ledesma converted a penalty kick in the 62nd minute and Danni Koing made it 4-0 in the 69th minute.
In the 86th minute, Marios Lomis pulled one back for NCFC. The rookie flicked Kyle Bekker’s corner into the far side of the net to score his second league goal of the year and fix the result at 4-1.
Up Next:
NCFC will continue its Open Cup and USL campaigns at home next week. The team will host the Ocean City Nor’easters in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. All seats are $10 and available for purchase online. NCFC will return to league action against Atlanta United 2 on Friday, May 25 at 7 p.m. Click here to buy tickets for the match. Tickets can also be purchased at the Coastal Credit Union Box Office in person or over the phone at 919-459-8144.
Notes:
The club’s youth-to-pro pipeline was predominately featured once again, as NCFC Youth Academy product DJ Taylor started at right back and fellow Academy alum Dre Fortune was selected to the bench.
The match was NCFC’s first USL league match since a 3-0 victory over Penn FC on April 28.
Marios Lomis scored his second USL goal of the season with a goal off an assist from Kyle Bekker in the 86th minute.
Box Score:
NCFC (4-5-1): Alex Tambakis; Peabo Doue, Michael Harrington, Futty Danso, DJ Taylor; Austin da Luz © (Donovan Ewolo 70’), Marcel Kandziora, Graham Smith (Bernhard Luxbacher 84’), Kyle Bekker, Steven Miller; Daniel Rios (Marios Lomis, 70’)
Subs not used: Austin Guerrero, Aaron Guillen, Dre Fortune, Connor Tobin
CIN (4-4-2): Evan Newton; Justin Hoyte, Blake Smith, Dekel Keinan ©, Paddy Barrett; Kenny Walker, Richie Ryan (Michael Lahoud, 82’), Nazmi Albadawi, Corben Bone; Danni Koing (Jimmy McLaughlin, 84’), Emmanuel Ledesma (Emery Welshman, 71’)
Subs not sued: Spencer Richey, Matt Bahner, Sam de Wit, Russell Cicrerone
Score:
CIN: 4
NCFC: 1
Goals:
CIN: Nazmi Albadawi (Emmanuel Ledesma, 11’), Nazmi Albadawi (Emmanuel Ledesma, 45’), Emmanuel Ledesma (PK, 62’), Danni Koing (Emmanuel Ledesma, 69’)
NCFC: Marios Lomis (Kyle Bekker, 86’)
Cautions:
CIN: Blake Smith 30’, Danni Konig 75’
NCFC: Kyle Bekker 65’
Ejections:
CIN: —
NCFC: —
Attendance: 22,884
###
